Amaranth as a functional food and ingredient for the food industry

The use of biological materials to produce a wide variety of goods by biotransformation has been studied extensively. Amaranthus spp. is known as a pseudocereal with potential applications in the food sector due to the high amounts of nutrients and bioactive molecules that can be transformed into foods to be directly consumed or as a source of functional ingredients with other industrial applications. This chapter discusses current issues, such as the increased amount of high-quality protein and bioactive peptides obtained by hydrolysis and the phenolic compounds that ameliorate some biomarkers associated with some illnesses. These positive effects include antioxidant, antiproliferative, antithrombotic, antidiabetic, and antiobesity treats, documented in different experimental models. Furthermore, industrial applications, including cosmetics, biofilms, and composites, and the production of elastic networks to improve food texture have been developed, not only with the seeds but also with the residues and subproducts of this plant. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.